Mumbai: Gufi Paintal, who played Shakuni in the Mahabharata, passed away on Monday morning. He was 78 years old. Paintal was admitted to the hospital in Mumbai Andheri for the last several days. His co-star Surendra Pal has confirmed the death. His last rites will be performed today on Monday at 4 pm.
Gufi was in Faridabad when his health deteriorated. He was first admitted to a hospital in Faridabad and then shifted to Mumbai.
Gufi's most famous role was that of Shakuni in the TV serial Mahabharat. He was the elder brother of the noted comedian and character actor Paintal.
Gufi made his Bollywood debut in 1975 with 'Rafu Chakkar'. He appeared in many films and TV shows in the 80s. However, Gufi got real recognition in 1988 from BR Chopra's superhit show 'Mahabharata'. He played the character of Shakuni Mama in the show. Gufi was last seen in Star Bharat's show 'Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki'.
Was in Army before entering acting world
Before venturing into the acting world, Gufi Paintal was in the Army. He had said- When the war was going on between India and China in 1962, I was studying engineering. Even during the war, army recruitment was going on in the college. I always wanted to join the army. The first posting was in the Army Artillery on the China border.
Gufi and other army soldiers used to perform Ramlila at the border
Gufi said There was no TV and radio for entertainment at the border, so we army soldiers used to perform Ramlila at the border. I used to play the role of Sita in Ramlila and a person disguised as Ravana used to come on a scooter and kidnap me. I was fond of acting, got some training from it.
Gufi came to Mumbai in 1969
Gufi slowly became more interested in acting. He came to Mumbai in 1969 at the behest of his younger brother Kanwarjit Paintal. Learned modeling and acting and also worked as an assistant director in many films. During this, he got a chance to work as a casting director in BR Chopra's Mahabharata.
Recently directed movie Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Paintal recently directed the movie, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which sketches the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century devotee of Krishna who is recognised as an incarnation of the god by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The film was produced by Pawan Kumar with music by Ravindra Jain.
In 2010 he was appointed head of facility at the Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, a school established by his Mahabharata co-star Pankaj Dheer.
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